The study investigated the use of neglected and
underutilized plant species in Akinyele Local Government
Area of Oyo State, Nigeria, with the specific objectives of
assessing the demographic characteristics of rural dwellers,
benefits of neglected and underutilized plant species,
examining rural dwellers’ knowledge and uses of neglected
and underutilized plants, assessing rural dwellers’ sources
of information on utilization neglected and underutilized
plant species. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to
collect information with the aid of structured questionnaire
from 120 respondents. Data collected were analyzed using
frequency counts, percentages and multiple regression
analysis. Respondents were mostly male, married, with little
or no formal education. Most preferred sources of
information are radio and extension agents. Respondents have
a high (70.0%) knowledge of use of these plants. The
chi-square analysis indicated that there was a significant
(X2 = 17.272, p =0.002) relationship between rural dwellers’
level of education and use of neglected and underutilized
plant species at 0.05 level of significance. However, age
(2 = 5.208, P = 0.391), sex (2 = 1.734, P = 0.42) and
Marital status (2 = 1.522, P = 0.467) were not
significantly related to the use of neglected and
underutilized plant species by rural dwellers. The multiple
regression analysis showed that there is a strong
correlation between the benefits, knowledge, exposure to
information and use of neglected and underutilized plant
species. It was recommended that Sensitization programmes on
utilization of neglected and underutilized plant species
should use preferred sources like radio and extension agents
in local languages.